Reston — Supporters of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) ascended to the top of Lake Anne Plaza, as Reston founder Robert Simon hosted a fundraising event Sunday, Oct. 13 at his home. Due to the 2010 redistricting, the 11th district includes Reston in its entirety.

“I’m so pleased that through redistricting, we have a new congressman in Gerry Connolly,” said Del. Ken Plum (D-36), who was in attendance. “Jim Moran is a great man and a great American, but we don’t lose anything by having Gerry as our congressman, and I think he’ll pay a lot of attention to us, because he likes representing us.”

Connolly, who also gained large portions of Tysons Corner, Herndon and Vienna in his new district, said he remembers thinking, while working in Washington, D.C. in the mid-70s, “why would anyone live so far away?”

“Since then, I’ve seen this community mature, I’ve seen Bob’s vision come to fruition and then some, and what he’s built in Reston is a model community for not only Fairfax and Northern Virginia, but the country,” he said. “A model of tolerance, of inclusivity, civic engagement, a model of spirited debate, but respect for other people’s points of view and other people. Couldn’t we all use some of that in our national political life?”

Connolly previously served as the Providence District supervisor from 1995 to 2003, and served as chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 2003 to his election to congress in 2008.

He faces opposition this November from Republican Chris Perkins, Green Party candidate Joe Galdo and Independents Christopher DeCarlo, Mark Gibson and Peter Marchetti.

“It’s great to have Gerry here, with Restonians,” Simon said. “Hopefully in the next few weeks, we’ll be influencing people to see the light.”